Bridging Ancient Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Psychology: A Critical Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions

  • Unique Paper ID: 188883
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 7
  • PageNo: 4149-4155
  • Abstract:
  • This study reviews the similarities and differences between traditional Buddhist mindfulness and modern mindfulness-based interventions in psychology. Mindfulness is an important part of Buddhism; it is a non-judging, conscious focus on the present moment used for meditation and moral behavior. However, mindfulness-based therapies, such as MBSR and MBCT, have transformed mindfulness into a secular therapy in which the objective is to reduce stress and manage symptoms. A systematic review of the academic databases resulted in studies that compared the definitions, practices, mechanisms, and ethical considerations of these traditions. While both techniques share a conscious and non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, resulting in mindfulness, there are striking differences regarding the ethical and spiritual dimensions, the length of the meditation practices, and the ultimate goals of mindfulness. Buddhist mindfulness is part of a set of moral rules and wisdom, whereas in the case of MBIs, mindfulness is usually out of context. These differences raise the question of whether secular adaptations are true and honest. More research should be conducted to elaborate on conceptual definitions, research how effectiveness can be improved based on ethical considerations and help in the discussion between Buddhist and psychological paradigms. The review emphasizes the necessity of balancing accessibility and adherence to the essential principles in the current practice of mindfulness.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{188883,
        author = {Manish Tarachand Mesrham and Nirvani Meshram},
        title = {Bridging Ancient Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Psychology: A Critical Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {7},
        pages = {4149-4155},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=188883},
        abstract = {This study reviews the similarities and differences between traditional Buddhist mindfulness and modern mindfulness-based interventions in psychology. Mindfulness is an important part of Buddhism; it is a non-judging, conscious focus on the present moment used for meditation and moral behavior. However, mindfulness-based therapies, such as MBSR and MBCT, have transformed mindfulness into a secular therapy in which the objective is to reduce stress and manage symptoms. A systematic review of the academic databases resulted in studies that compared the definitions, practices, mechanisms, and ethical considerations of these traditions. While both techniques share a conscious and non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, resulting in mindfulness, there are striking differences regarding the ethical and spiritual dimensions, the length of the meditation practices, and the ultimate goals of mindfulness. Buddhist mindfulness is part of a set of moral rules and wisdom, whereas in the case of MBIs, mindfulness is usually out of context. These differences raise the question of whether secular adaptations are true and honest. More research should be conducted to elaborate on conceptual definitions, research how effectiveness can be improved based on ethical considerations and help in the discussion between Buddhist and psychological paradigms. The review emphasizes the necessity of balancing accessibility and adherence to the essential principles in the current practice of mindfulness.},
        keywords = {Mindfulness, Buddhism, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT); Secular Adaptations, Present-Moment Awareness},
        month = {December},
        }

Cite This Article

Mesrham, M. T., & Meshram, N. (2025). Bridging Ancient Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Psychology: A Critical Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(7), 4149–4155.

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